BY DANIEL GLUSKOTER
Geno Smith’s 13 yard touchdown run with just 12 seconds remaining lifted the Seattle Seahawks to a 20-17 win over the 49ers Sunday afternoon, further jeopardizing San Francisco’s playoff hopes.
Smith’s run culminated an 11 play 80 yard drive to put Seattle (5-5) on top of the crowded NFC West, with the tiebreaker against the Niners in hand.
San Francisco had taken a 17-13 lead when Brock Purdy threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jauan Jennings with 9:33 to play. The Niners looked to be in great shape for a comeback win after stopping Seattle on back-to-back plays for no gain from the 37 with the Seahawks needing only 1 yard for a first down. But the 49ers couldn’t retain possession on offense, giving Smith and Seattle the chance at the comeback win.
“We gave them a chance,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan. “We had every opportunity to run away with (the game) and put it away. I thought our defense played great all game until that last drive. We let them hang around and when you let people hang around, that’s what happens.”
Purdy went 21 for 28 for 159 yards with a touchdown pass, a TD run and an interception. Jauan Jennings had 10 catches for 91 yards and a score while Christian McCaffrey gained 106 yards from scrimmage for San Francisco, 79 on the ground. On the defensive side of the ball, Nick Bosa tallied 4 tackles and 1.5 sacks for the Niners, with Leonard Floyd adding 3 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
“We have to be better,” left tackle Trent Williams said. “We have to execute better. We have to put more than 17 points on the board if we want to win a divisional game.”
Smith finished 25 for 32 for 221 yards with one interception and the touchdown run. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 10 catches for 110 yards and Walker scored on a 1 yard run for the Seahawks.
The 49ers (5-5) return to action next Sunday with a game in Green Bay against the Packers.
